Slovakia Ring, Tests: Huff sets Slovakia pace

Rob Huff has gone quickest in testing for WTCC Race of Slovakia to underline the continued progression of LADA Sport Rosneft and its new-for-2015 Vesta TC1 racer in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The Briton, the winner of the 2012 WTCC, set a fastest time of 2m04.967s around the 5.922-kilometre Slovakia Ring with Ma Qing Hua second for Citroën, 0.433s off Huff’s pace.

Hugo Valente (Chevrolet) impressed as the top Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy contender in third with Honda driver Gabriele Tarquini next up to make it four different car makes in the top four.

Yvan Muller and Tiago Monteiro, the winners of the previous rounds in Russia, were fifth and sixth respectively with Mehdi Bennani seventh, last year’s Slovakia winner Sébastien Loeb eighth, Jaap van Lagen ninth and WTCC champion and current championship leader José María López 10th but equal on time with van Lagen.

López’s fellow Argentine and former arch-rival Néstor Girolami impressed on his WTCC debut by going 12th quickest for Honda Racing team Sweden, one place behind Norbert Michelisz. Local hero Mato Homola was 18th for Campos Racing having earlier set the pace in FIA European Touring Car Cup testing.

The 30-minute WTCC test session was in preparation for Saturday’s Free Practice and Qualifying sessions.